Planoqeaph co



B. K. HOLLISTER.

V SURGICAL PACKAGE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I8. 1918.

'1 509,20 1. Patented July 8, 1919.

Tun COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D c.

BERTRAM K. HOLLISTE R, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SURGICAL PACKAGE.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed April 18, 1918. Serial No. 229,398.

To all whom it may concern Be it know that I, BERTRAM K. HoLLrs'rEn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surgical Packages, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to an im proved surgical package and more particularly to a combined container for a medicament and a swab or applicator applied thereto.

The main object of the invention is to produce a hermetically sealed container in which will be placed the medicament, such for instance, as tincture of iodin, and to attach thereto a swab by which the iodin or the like may be readily applied to a wound, the structure being such that the user can view the contents and readily determine when. the liquid is exhausted. A further object of the invention is to provide means for attaching the swab or gauze to the tube which means may be employed, upon its removal from its initial position upon the tube or package, to secure the swab impregnated or saturated with the medicament over the wound.

Stated more specifically the device may be said to comprise a sealed glass tube to contain the iodin or the like, the tube being so constructed that it may be readily fractured or broken in order to discharge the tincture, and a swab preferably composed of a piece of sterilized gauze wound in place about the lower end of the tube and preferably secured to the tube by a strip of adhesive tape.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the completed article;

Fig. 2 a sectional elevation; and

Fig. 3 a side elevation of the tube.

Referring to said drawings, 1. denotes the tube or container formed of glass and preferably drawn down to a fine point, 2, at one end thereof. Secured to the lower end of the tube and extending beyond the point 2 is a swab or applicator 3, said swab being preferably formed by winding a piece of gauze or the like around the lower end of the tube and securing it to the tube by a strip of adhesive tape, denoted by L. It is evident, of course, that the swab or applicator may be secured in other ways, as for instance, by paraihn, paste or glue of any sort, or, in fact, any adhesive material which will secure the upper end of the swab in place. WVhen so secured, however, care should be taken that the binding material employed is confined to the upper end of the swab and that it should not extend upwardly to any considerable extent along the body of the tube as otherwise the contents of the tube would be closed off from view. The use of the adhesive tape is, however, preferable, inasmuch as it may be removed and employed for securing the swab in place over the wound after it has been treated with the iodin or the like immediately after breaking or fracturing the lower end of the tube.

The swab is furthermore preferably tied 0r drawn in below the point 2 by an encircling thread or cord 5. This encircling cord forms in effect a brush end 6 upon the lower end of the swab or applicator and likewise prevents the fractured glass from passing down on to the wound.

In use it is only necessary, as above noted, to snap or fracture the lower fine point of the tube, whereupon the contents of the tube will flow out on to and through the swab saturating the gauze and permitting direct application of the iodin or the like to the wound without any wastage. Furthermore, the greater portion of the tube is left exposed so that the contents may be observed and the user may know when he has exhausted the tincture contained in the tube. Where the swab is secured to the tube by an adhesive tape, the tape may be removed and employed to secure the swab in place over the wound. The swab will at such time be saturated with the excess of iodin and will make a perfectly sterile compress when held in place directly over the wound by the strip of adhesive, the ends of the adhesive strip, of course, being pressed against the skin to either side of the wound until it adheres, as will be readily understood. It is only necessary to see that any alcoholic solution evapo rates from the adhesive tape before an effort is made to attach such ends to the skin.

Mere painting of a wound with iodin does not serve anything but an immediate antiseptic purpose and as the iodin breaks down the cells the tissue becomes a medium for the development of bacteria, because dead tissue has no resistance to infection, so the iodin in that way serves for protection but for a brief time, whereas the use of the gauze compress over the wound maintains a condition of sterility until the injured person can reach a dressing station where a permanent dress ing can be applied.

As above noted, while iodin has been specifically referred to, it is not used of necessity, as any other antiseptic solution may be used as a dressing or the device may be used for other than medical and surgical purposes.

It is conceivable that instead of drawing the end of the tube to a fine point that the lower end might be provided with a file mark as indicated at 7 (Fig. 2) whereby the lower end of the tube may be readily fractured to permit the tincture to flow therefrom.

It is to be noted that under the present constructiOn the swab is secured at one end of the tube only and that the retaining means, preferably the strip of adhesive tape extends but a short distance above the upper edge of the swab; consequently the contents of the tube may be readily seen.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A hermetically sealed tube containing a medicament; a swab located eXteriorly thereof; and a strip of adhesive tape wound about the upper portion of the swab and the adjacent surface of the tube whereby the swab will be secured to the tube.

2. A hermetically sealed tube containing a medicament, said tube being drawn down to a point at one end; a swab surrounding such end; and a strip of adhesive securing the upper end of the swab to the adjacent portion of the tube.

3. A hermetically sealed tube containing a medicament, said tube being drawn down to a fine point at one end; a swab formed of gauze wound about such end and extending beyond the point; a strip of adhesive tape wound about the upper end of the swab and securing the same to the adjacent portion of the tube; and a binding cord or thread wound about the swab adjacent the lower pointed end.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BERTRAM K. HOLLISTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

